1861 census district on452 page 001 line 00
@ca.on.wellington_county.minto_township
film C1083 lds0349331WELLINGTON_COUNTYMINTO_TOWNSHIP1861 census pages 01-0910-1920-2930-3940-47
Enumerators report from the Township of Minto in the County of Wellington.
District #1 comprises from Con 1 to 9 inclusive with parts of Con A, C. and D.
District #2 comprises from Con 10 to 18 with parts of Con A, C. and D
The general character of the above being so much alike we think it
unnecessary to describe them separately.
The villiage of Harriston, on the main branch of the headwaters of the
Maitland, is situated near the centre of the Township on Con C. and D,
containing a grist mill, ? power, steam and water.
One saw mill water power.
Blacksmiths, carpenters and other mechanics shops.
A. post office and 1 general store. 2 taverns.
A. Free Presb Church in course of erection,
One common school with a fair attendance of pupils.
The business of the municipality is transacted at this place and the
exhibitions of the Township agricultural Society which bids fair to be
prosperous and useful, are also held in the village. As yet the place
affords but few advantages for the disposal of agricultural produce,
for which Mount Forest is the nearest market, distant from Harriston
ten miles north east but which is to the greater part of the
inhabitants, very difficult of access, in consequence of the state
of the roads, or rather from the absence of roads. The next nearest
market and that which most of the settlers have to avail themselves of,
is Elora, 28 miles southeast of Harriston. In addition to the above,
the township contains 4 saw mills, 2 of which are steam and two water
power, 1 woollen factory, 1 brewery, 3 general stores, a post office
called Cilfford post office, 3 common schools and 1 separate school,
and a Catholic school.
The concession roads run nearly east and west and the Elora and Saugeen
road which is the main leading thoroughfare, enters the township at the
south east corner and runs diagonally between Con C. and D. to the
northwest corner, the gravelling which is now in contemplation.
The road between the 16th and 17th con. has been opened under the
direction of the government, with a continuation through a part of
the Township of Normanby to the Owen Sound road. The remainder of the
several concession, sides and boundary lines are very imperfectly
opened, many parts of which remain in their original state of nature
and are altogether impassable, causing great inconvenience to the
inhabitants.
The township was settled about six or seven years ago and the progress
made by the settlers under disadvantageous circumstances is certainly
creditable and praiseworthy. The soil generally is a rich loam
containing clay and sand and occasionally isolated shots of gravel.
No rock has as of yet been discovered except a ledge of limestone
which appears in the South Saugeen river , on the 18th concession.
We believe that the quantity of wheatland given in the agricultural
census is less than what is really under cultivation, but that the
quantity of grain stated to be produced is nearly correct, consequently
the apparent average amount to the acre is somewhat larger than it
ought to appear. This crop has not been affected by rust or insects,
but which during the last three seasons has (with some exceptions)
been very much injured by summer frosts. Peas and potatoes have from
the same cause suffered more severely. We believe that the greater
part of the township is better adapted for diary or stock farming
than for the production of grain.
Leonidas
CHALONER
Llewellyn
CHALONER
(Enumerators)